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Post viral syndrome peripheral nerve hyperexcitability
Hi everyone,
I’m a 36-year-old navigating recovery from what’s been described as post-viral small fiber involvement and motor nerve hyperexcitability.
How It Began:
It started after a viral illness in August 2024, during a time when my whole family had upper respiratory symptoms.
I developed fever, diffuse headache, and left-sided temple pain, which later localized and became persistent.
By January 2025, I began to experience:
Burning sensations
Pins and needles
Odd wet or sunburn-like skin feelings
Muscle fasciculations (twitches) across my body
Migratory muscle pain and intermittent joint discomfort
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Workup So Far:
MRI of brain and cervical spine: Normal
Autoimmune workup: Negative
Skin biopsy: Normal epidermal nerve fiber density
Nerve conduction studies & EMG (lower extremities): Normal
CBC, CMP, CRP, ESR, CK, aldolase, B12: All normal
No evidence of large fiber neuropathy or motor neuron disease
No clinical weakness or atrophy
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Current Working Diagnosis:
Post-viral small fiber sensitization
Motor nerve hyperexcitability (likely benign fasciculation syndrome or similar)
Significant health anxiety, especially due to my medical background and profession
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What’s Helping Me:
Gabapentin (600 mg at night)
Supplements:
Magnesium glycinate
CoQ10
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)
Omega-3
Curcumin
B-complex
Vitamin D3 + K2
Ashwagandha, glycine, apigenin (for calming and sleep)
Exercise: Strength remains intact and working out reinforces my confidence
Mind-body tools:
Headspace and Curable app
Weekly visits with a psychologist
Gratitude journaling
Somatic calming techniques (breathing, grounding, mantra work)
New mantra I use daily:
> “One in a million. I am strong. This will pass.”
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Biggest Lessons:
Even with scary symptoms like widespread twitching or burning, the body can be in a state of hyperawareness, not disease.
I’ve learned the importance of regulating fear and stress to support nervous system healing.
Benign doesn’t mean painless—but it does mean hopeful.
Working with a neurologist, psychologist, and staying grounded in scientific reasoning has helped me reclaim my peace.
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Happy to connect with anyone navigating something similar. You're not alone—and your body is capable of calming, rewiring, and healing.
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Was B6 checked?
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1 ReactionB6 was not checked. I'll have to chat with my doctor to see if that is something we can add on
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1 ReactionAlso no alcohol or tobacco use
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1 Reaction@josh701
I can totally relate with daycares being Petri dishes and making parents sick with all of the viruses they were never exposed to (had this happen the first 2 years my son was in daycare).
Did your neurologist tell you to stop the B complex supplements due to high b12 toxicity in your bloodwork? That causes neuropathy.
Are you on a high protein/low carb diet?
My neurologist was very concerned about B6 because he has seen pretty significant symptoms from too much. He warned me to avoid taking any form of B6 including multivitamins. My level was normal.
Hi @josh701
I wanted to say thanks for sharing, your history sounds very similar to my own. In Dec 2024 I caught the flu from my young son and after a hefty chronic cough developed tingling and burning on my tongue, constant tingling back and top of the head and ears, tinnitus, constant ear fullness, electric shocks in my toes and localized constant myalgia in the anterior neck muscles. Apparently my nervous system is triggering the muscle pain.
My health anxiety dialled things up, on reflection Dr Google and doomscrolling forums left me catastrophizing to the point it was borderline inducing panic attacks. It's reassuring to hear the strategies that are working for you and that you are remaining to stay strong. Likewise I'm using Cureable, supplements and therapy to navigate through this. Luckily I have no fatigue so physical therapy is massively helping.
Officially I'm diagnosed with localized sensitization (primarily neck and head) resulting in myofascial pain. My nervous system is on constant high alert and needs to reset. I'm on a medium dose of Amitriptyline, bloods all came back normal along with ANA panel and vitamin testing. In a strangely reassuring way my neurologist (who has expertise in long Covid) said that disruption of the nervous system is becoming more common, often triggered now by sinus infections, flu and even hefty colds. What is reassuring is that my neurologist said most people recover with the right strategies and time, I was even given a ballpark timeframe for recovery.
I was curious if your neurologist also gave you a timeframe for recovery and if you've found anything that particularly helped with the anxiety?
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2 ReactionsGlad to hear from someone with similar story. For me the health anxiety might be the worse part. With the muscle twitches I instantly went to ALS measuring my legs etc. It's still a challenge to this day but I remind my self for als it's function not feeling and I have full function.
I found the book hope and help for the nerves by Dr. Weekes. She discusses a 1st and 2nd fear. First fear is the Somatic symptoms then the second fear is what we do that keeps things alive the what ifs maybe it's that. It really is a good read. I used audible and really liked the narrator.
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3 ReactionsAnd I was not given a time table he said could be months could be years. I'm trying to just take things one day at a time. And yes physical exercises helps tremendously. Any good books you recommend or strategies?
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1 ReactionThanks, I'll definitely check out the book by Dr. Weekes. Like you, I've found trying to control the anxiety and maintain perspective to be a real challenge.
I've found the educational side of Cureable to be extremely helpful in understanding the link between brain and body. To that end I'd recommend 'The Painful Truth: The new science of why we hurt and how we can heal'. It's heavy on the education side which I've found to be helpful.
Other than the pain management therapies trying to spend as much time outside as possible, keeping active and spending time with the family have helped me keep grounded.
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1 ReactionDo you mind telling us what ballpark timeframe you were given for recovery?